Nasal inhaler



A. C. HOFFMAN NASAL INHALER Filed Aug. 6. 1937 Feb. 20, 1940.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 PATENT `OFFICE NASAL INHALEB Allan C. Hoffman, Mllldale, Conn.,asai|nor to' Scovill ,Manufacturing Company, Waterbury,- 1Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut Application August 6,1937, Serial No. 157,711 c claims. (ci. 12s-zoo) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in inhalers, and particularly of the type using a medicated filler or a crystallized or granular substance adapted to produce vapors and throat ailments. l

One' of the objects of this device is to provide a construction which, when a medicated absorb" ent filler is used, is designed to permit an easy flow of air through the device, subjecting the air to the maximum surface area of the filler so as to saturate it with the volatile fumes emitted therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide l5 an inhaler device having air intake and outlet openings in the same end of the device, which construction requires only the use ofya relatively short single cap for sealing the same. In producing such al construction, provision is made i()` for an additional annular chamber between two concentrically spaced shells, thus affording additional space for conserving the volatile fumes from the inhalant within the device.

A still further object is to provide an inhalant g5 container of neat appearance, simple and inexpensive construction, easily operated, and designed to be carried in the vest pocket or in the handbag convenient for immediate use.

The invention'will be better understood from 30 the detailed description which follows when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, showing certain preferred embodiments y of the invention, wherein: l

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the 'inhalen g5 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same on a slightly enlarged scale, the section taken on a plane passing throughthe air intake passages as indicated by the' section line of Fig. 4. v

o Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the parts of the inhaler as they appear before assembly.

Fig. 4 is a transverse .sectional viewvthrough the device, taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of thev arrows, and

5 Fig. 5 is -a fragmentary vertical sectional view4 through the lower end of the container, showing a modified form of construction.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the sev- 50 eral views, the numeral I0 indicates a relatively long hollow interior container shell formed atl w It and II being such as to provide for an anor fumes for inhalation for the treatment of 'nose nular chamber I2 therebetween. The upper end of the interior shell I is formed with a reduced rounded nozzle end I3, providing for a transverse shoulder Il between the side wall of said shell III and the nozzle end I3. The nozzle end I3 5 is designed to conform comfortably to a person's nostril: the apex of the nozzle end vI3 is provided with an inwardly drifted conical shaped flange I5 surrounding a discharge aperture I6, which construction presents no sharp edges liable toinjure the user. l

In order to retain the lowerends of the shells I0 and Il in concentric relationship, the closed end I1 of the exterior body shell I I is provided with an upwardly formed annular rib I8 around 16 which the lower end of the interior shell III is adapted to fit. The upper end of the .exterior lshell II is provided with a reduced collar or retain theA shells I0 and II in spaced concentric relationship. After the two shells I0 and II have been assembled together, the upper portion of- 25 said band I9 is spun or otherwise formed inwardly to embrace the shoulder I4 and obviously hold said shells I0 and Il in permanent assembly. It is to be understood here that the above assembly is not effected until after the desired medicaf ment is loaded into the interior container shell I I.

As stated as one of the objects o f this .invention, the inhaler is designed to have the `air intake positioned at the upper end of the device in the neighborhoodv of the outlet orA discharge aperture thereof. In accordance therewith a plurality of equally spaced inwardly struck hol low ribs 20 (four in this-instancelare provided at the shoulder part Il of the interior shell I0. The ribs 20 are arcuately shapedin both longi- 0 tudinal and transverse planes and -of a depth exceeding the width of the shoulder Il, thus prol viding for by-pas'ses 2l communicating directly with the annular chamber I2. The lower edge of the interior shell is vprovided with a number of 5 rectangular slots 22 to provide an open communif cation between the chamber I2 and the interior space of the shell III.

In order to produce an effective seal for the device when not in use, provision is made for a closure cap 23 composed of an -upper reduced end 2l shaped to conform to the nozzle vend I3, and an enlarged lower Vcylindrical end 25 with an intermediate connecting shoulder 26. The` lower cylindrical end 25 is formed. with suitable "5 rolled threads 21 for engagement with corresponding threads 28 at the upper end of the exterior shell II between the collar band I9 and the body proper. An annular sealing washer or gasket 29 is provided and is normally retained within the cup 23 adjacent the connecting shoulder 26 by reason of the fact that the minimum diameter of the thread 21 is less than the outside diameter of said washer 29. When the cap 21 is threaded home upon the inhaler device, the gasket 29 is adapted to be compressed tightly against the shoulder I to effect an air-tight seal between the parts. By reason of this construction it will be noted that both the inlet by-passes 2l and the discharge aperture are sealed by a.

permit substantially no loss of the fumes within the device upon the removal ofthe cap 23 therefrom.

In making provision for loading or charging the inhalant device with a suitable inhalant, the

' parts are so constructed as to admit through the open end of the shell I0 a 'cotton wad 30 or other material of similar characteristics, as indicated by dotted outline in Fig. 2, saturated with the proper inhalant, or alternately an inhalant in crystallized form. After the shell III is so charged, it is telescoped into the body shell II and the upper portion of the collar band I9 of body shell I'I is spun inwardly over theshoulder I4 of the interior shell I0 permanently locking said shells Ill and II together, as previously explained. 'I'he closure cap 23 bearing the sealing gasket 29 is then assembled in place, making the container ready for shipmentand marketing. Although the threads 28 on the body shell II in Fig. 2 appear to contact the adjacent surface of the interior shell I0 in such a manner as to close oil the space between the chamber I2 and the .by-passes 2 I it will be readily understood that a iree air passage will be provided to said chamber I2 from the by-pases 2l through the unobstructed helical groove 3l existing: as the concave element of the rolled thread 28 in the l body shell n.

In practice, the inhalant device may be readily put to use, by iirst removing the cap 23, ap-

plying the nozzle end I3 to the nostril and inhaling. This causes a flow of air to enter through the lby-,passes 2l, pass downwardly through the annular chamber I2, becoming saturated with 'thefumes storedl therewithi'n, thence pass Finically sealing the same and sealing in the fumes issuing from the medicament to the free space of the container.

In the modification exemplified in Fig. 5, the 'construction of said inhalant device is` similar in every respect to the rst'form, except that the annular groove I8 is omitted from the base I'I of the body shell II and the interior shell I0 is h eld concentric with respect to the body shell II by reason of lthe fact that the lower endA of said latter shell is provided with a slight tapered :end 32 which servestcfthesamev eigect as the rib I8 in the preferred'io vmeanings 22.'. f i 1 without closing ofi the .-VIt will appear that while there aire"employed Vcertain details of construction forthe purpose of formed with a reduced apertured nozzle section dening a transverse connecting shoulder therebetween, .an outer casing having a closed lower end for closing the open endof said container and of a diameter larger than the container for providing an annular chamber therebetween, means for retaining said container casing in concentric relationship comprising an annular .rib

formed inwardly of the closed end of said casing and a reduced collar at the upper end of said Y casing embracing said container, the upper end of said casing above said collar formed inwardly with a ange to embrace said container shoulder in permanent assembly and means providing an air intake passage circumscribed about said shoulder flange and collar and into said cham-v ber, and further means providing communication from said chamber tothe interior of-said container at the lower end thereof.

2. An inhaler device comprising an interior tubular container for receiving a volatile medicament open at one end and the opposite-l end formed with a reduced apertured nozzle section dcilning a transverse connecting shoulder therebetween,an outer casing having a closed lower end for closing the open end of said container and of a diameter larger than the oontainer for providing an annularchamber therebetween, means for retaining said container casing in concentric relationship comprising a tapered section formed inwardly of the casing adjacent the closed end thereof and a reduced collar at the upper end of said casing embracing said container, the upper end of said casing above said collar formed inwardly with a flange to embrace said container shoulder inI permanent assembly and means providing an air intake passage circumscribed about said shoulder into said chamber, and further means providing communication from said chamber tothe interior of said container at the lower end thereof.

3. An inhaler device comprising two elongated shells disposed one within the other in spaced relationship creating a chamber therebetween. a closure cap carrying a sealing washer, the inner shell having a nozzle end with a discharge opening and which nozzle end is reduced relative to the diameter of the body of the shell to provide a shoulder therebetween, the open end of said outer shell havingan inwardly formed iiange engaging said shoulder to retain said shells in assembled position after the desired inhalant has been placed into the inner shell, the flange portion of said outer shell also serving as a seat to beengaged by the washer to eiect a hermetical seal for the device, and means providing an air inlet into the chamber by-passing the shoulder. and ilange and further means communicating the opposite end of said chamber into the interior of said inner shell. Q

4. An inhaler 'device comprising an inner tubular container having an open end anda nozzle end witha discharge opening, said nozzle '75 end being reduced relative to the diameter of the body proper of the container to produce an abrupt shoulder therebetween, an outer casing surrounding said container in spaced relationship providing for an annular. chamber therebetween and having a closed end for closing the open end o! said container, the open end of -said casing having an inwardly formed flange engaging said shoulder to retain said casing and container in permanent assembly after the latter has been charged with a suitable inhalant, and means provlding an air inlet into the annular chamber bypassing lthe shoulder and ange, and further means communicating the opposite end of said chamber to the interior of said container.

5. An inhaler device defined as by claim 4 wherein the first mentioned air passage means comprises one or more hollow channels formed inwardly in both the nozzle end and body proper of said container on opposite sides of said shoul- Y der and adapted to circumflex both the shoulder and retaining flange.

6. An inhaler device comprising an inner tubular container having an open end and a nozzle end with a discharge opening, said nozzle end being reduced relative to the diameter o!v the body proper of the container to produce a transverse shoulder therebetween, an outer tubular casing surroundingsaid container and having a closed end for closing the open end of said container, said casing being relatively larger than said container and having means to retain itself in concentric relationship to said container thus providing an annular chamber therebetween, the

open end of said casing having4 an inwardly4 formed flange engaging said shoulder to retain said casing and container in permanent assembly after the latter has been charged with a suitable inhalant, means providing an air inlet into the annular chamber by-passing -the shoulder and ilange and other air passage means connectng the opposite end of the chamber into said container, a closure cap having detachable engagement with the upper end of said casing,

said cap formed with an intermediate shoulder, and a washer carried by said cap for engaging said flange for hermetically sealing the entire inhaler device.

ALLAN c. HOFFMAN. 'as 

